Combined mill and separator



April 21,1942; 5. B. KANbwrrz 2,280 38 COMBINED MILL AND SEPARATOB 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 31, 1938 I rmrenrar, J (22222121 5 {mall/17E Ap l 1942- r I s. aKANowlTz 2,280,238

COMBINED MILL AND SEPARATOR Filed Dec. 51, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 N Jaimie] 0114M)? Patented Apr. 21, 1942 3 UNITED; STATES PATENT 5 OFFICE smiffi litifififififxa to Combustion Engineering Co pany. Inc., New

York, N. Y.,'"a corporation of Delaware 7 Application December 31, 1938 ,Serial N05248:?

, p v sclnms xcrss-m 'l'his inventionrelates tocertain new anduse fui improvements in a combined mllland separator apparatus in which the separator, as well as the means for feedingnew material tethe mill tobe*ground. are supported entirely independentiof the mill 'although remaining in their normal close operating positions relative to the mill, so that the effect of mill vibrations on the separator and feeder willbe minimized." i It is customary in certain mill installations, particularly roller mills,to position a separating apparatus above the mill and enclosed in the same housingso that the ground material carried upwardly from the mill in an air stream will pass directly into theseparator. Insuflicient 1y ground material will be rejected by the sepatreatment; only the suilicientlypulveri zed material being carried upwardly in' suspension in the air stream from the combined apparatus. Mechanicallyactuated feeding apparatus isalso provided to introduce the new material to be ground into'the mill'ata controlled and uniform rate: Usually the separatorand the feeding apparatus are subported directly from the; mill through the single continuous housing. Consequently the ratherviolent vibrations] oithe mill parts, and the shocks incident to crushing the material, willbe transmitted through the hous- 'rator and will fallback intothefmill for further minor vibrations caus d {The principalobject of this invention is to provide an'improved mill'and separator combination such as briefly described hereinabove and disclofied more in detail in the specifications which follow.

Another 'objectisto provide improvedmeans I for supporting the separator' entirely independently of the'mill with which the separator is directly associated.

Another object is to provide improved means for supporting the feeding mechanism entirely independently of the'inill with which it is associated. I

another object isto, provide an improved flexible means forconnecting the separate housing sectionswhich enclose the mill and separator.

assemblydue to the movement'oftheheavy rhill' Other objects and advantages of this invention willbe more apparent from the following detailed description of one approved form-of apparatus combination constructed and-operate;

ing according to the principles of this inventiiine In the accompanying drawing:

} Fig. 1 is an elevation of a portion of thamili,

and separator installation.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section taken substantially on the line 2-4 of Fig. 1. It may here -.be noted that the feeding mechanism shown at in'g'tothe separator andfeeder mechanismscarried by this housing. 'Undercertain conditionsv these vibrations may adversely aflect the proper operation'of 'the separator, and even cause injury to or breakage of certain of the relativelylight parts of l the separatora Furthermore, these vibrations will causef'the material to pack in the feeder so that the feeding apparatus mayflnot function properly. 1 p

According to the present invention the housing enclosing themill and separator is divided into a lower mill housing and an upper separator housing is supported on a fixed foundation. The

housing, and also supporting thefeeding apparatus, is suspended by separate supporting means in proper position over the millassembly but entirely independently of the; mill. and a flexible sealing means is utilized to Join the two the left of Fig. 1 has been shifted through an angle of 90 in Fig. 2 so as to facilitate the di'sa closure. This feeding mechanism can be mounted. at any convenient side of the mill -separator apparatus. 7

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the flexiblesealing ring.

Fig, 4 is a side 'view oftheisealing ring. looking upwardly from the bottom as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is ah enlarged detail of that portion of the sealing ring where the ends are joined. Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially on the lines 6-.8 of Figs. 3 or 5.

housing. The mill assembly comprising themill housing sections; sothat one section may move or vibrate independentlyof theother. As a consequence the separator and feeding mechanisms will remain comparatively. steady, except for the separator assembly, comprising the separator feeding mechanism indicated generally at D.

The :blower or exhauster E introduces an air stream tangentially into the air manifold I of the mill, the air stream flowing upwardly from the mill and ca rying ground material up int by the moving parts of. these particular mechanisms.

the separator B. This separator rejects insufflciently pulverized material which falls back into the mill for further treatment. The sufliciently pulverized material is carried upwardly by the air stream through conduit 2 into a cyclone sepa- 5 rator (not here shown) which collects the pulverized material, the air flowing back through conduit I to the exhauster E. A suitably valved air vent pipe 4 is connected with a portion of this air circulating system, preferably between the exhauster E and the mill.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the mill is shown as of the roller type, although other suitable types of mills might be substituted. The mill com- 7 prisesthe central vertical drive shaft I, rotatable about the central vertical axis of, the mill and separator combination, and carrying at its upper end the spider i from which a circular series of grinding rollers is suspended. Each grinding roller 1 is freely rotatable about its own axis in a carriage I pivoted at I inspider i so that the roller will swing outwardly by centrifugal force against the stationary bull-ring II.

The material introduced by feeding mechanism D is 5 round, between the rollers I and bull-ring I0, end the air stream which flows. inwardly from air m'anifold'l through openings ii in the mill irame carries ground material in suspension upwardly through housing 1'' to the separator B.

The central vertical mill-shaft I is driven through beveled gears i2 and II fromhorizcntal shaft ll which carries at its outer end the belt pulley II. This pulleyis rotated through belt searin i6 (Fig. 1) from the motor i'l.

The separator B, which is supported in the upper portion of housing F, is of a known typecomprising one or more rotary deflectors or whizzers I! which cooperate with stationary annular deflectors it. Each whizzer comprises a closed central disk portion 2| anda plurality of radially projecting vanes 2| which'extend at their outer ends into proximity to the stationary deflectors ll. Only the very flnely pulverized material will be carried through .these rotary whizzers by the air stream and thence carried out through the upper outlet opening 22 and through conduit 2 (Fig.1) to the cyclone separotor. The larger particles of material will be rejectedby the separator and will fallback into rotary deflectors or whizzers are carried by a vertical shaft 23' centered about the central vertical axis of the mill and separator, shaft 23 being supported by central gear casing 24 car- I ried by radially extending arms 'or braces 25 mounted on the walls of housing F. Shaft 13 is driven by gearing in casing 24 from the horizontal shaft 26 extending out through one side of housing F. Shaft 28 is driven through belt briefly described -by way of example is preferred, other forms of separators could be used as far as the general features of the present invention are concerned. Y

, I v 6 The feeder mechanism D ,is of known type 0 comprising a main casing 28 carried by the intermediate-hollow cylindrical vertically extending portion ll of the mill and separator housing. F

rotary pocketed feed wheel 38; A crank 31 actuated through suitable reduction gearing from motor 38 reciprocates a pitman 39 which (through ratchet mechanism not here shown) intermittently rotates the pocketed feeder 36 at a selected rate. In this way the material to be ground is introduced into the mill at a substantially uniform and controlled rate.

The mill and separator housing which has been designated as a whole by the reference character F comprises an upper cylindrical portion I, closed at the top by wall ll except for the central outlet opening 22, and an inwardly and downwardly. tapering portion 42 extending to the top ofthe intermediate cylindrical portion II already referred to. The separato'r mechanism is. enclosed and supported by these upper housing sections 40 and 42. The lowermost portion 43 of .housing F encloses the air manifold i on the lower portion of the mill mechanism, this lower portion of the housing-having a central upper opening of substantially the same diameter as the intermediate portion III of housingF. In the example here shown this inter-,

mediate portion 30 of the housing extends down so as to enclose the upper portion of the mill assembly and register at its lower end with the opening in the top of the lower housing section 43.

The mill assembly, comprising the lower portion 43 of the housing which is directly connected with the mill, is as usual supported on a -the mill for further grinding treatment. The

fixed foundation comprising the concrete pedestals H. The motor II which drives the mill is also mounted on a portionof this flxed foundation. In former installations of this general type the upper portion of the assembly compris-- ing the upper housing sections and the separator and feeder mechanisms carried thereby have been attached to and directly supported by the lower mill assembly. There are rather heavy vibrations and shocks developed in the mill due to the movements of the heavy grinding elements and the crushing and grinding operations. These vibrations are transmitted through the housing to the separator and feeder mechanisms supported thereby. Consequently loosening of v the connecting bolts and breakage of the lighter metal parts of the casing may develop and the 7 may result. 'Also these vibrations cause the ma-' terial to pack in the feeder so thatitdoes not function properly.

According tothe present invention all of this upper assembly comprising the upper portion of the housing and the separator and feeder mechanisms is suspended in proper position above the gearing 21 from a motor 28 (see Fig. 1). While the speciflc type of separator here shown and complete housing'are joined by a flexible connection which minimizes the transmission there--- through-of the vibrations in the mill assembly.

' ll supporting frame forthe upper portion of the assembly comprises four posts or uprights 45 suported at their lower ends. on foundation pedestals 44 and connected at their upper ends by cross beams st and transversely extending cross beams 41 (Fig. 1). Brackets 40 secured to diametricallyopposite sides ofthe upper housing section 40 rest on the cross beams 41, and similar brackets 49 at to the brackets 48 rest on-the other cross beams 48. In .this way'all of the separator mechanisms comprising the three upper sections 40, 42 and III of the housing F are not carried 44 is considered asbeing themili'housing,

suspended irom supporting frame and are inany way by the mill assembly. The separator motor- 2. is" also conveniently Fig. 1. The feeder mechanismD isalso' suspended from thes'upporting ira'm'e since it is' carried by the intermediate portion; It ot the housing. It mayherebe noted that, as far as housing for enclosing the mill and separator, said housing iorming an enclosure through mounted on this supporting irameas shown -in the separatords' concernedi the housing I": may 1 ;be divided atuahigher point in the assembly i l That impart or all 0! theintermediate housing v i 1 sectiontlmightbesupported tromthexmilland form a pal-to! the mill-housing. However, it is preferable to divide the housingat a lower level, [as in the example here shown, in order that the 'teeder mechanismynimay bejcarried by the separatorassembly and still be' positioned-lows? enough to feed directly into-thsmlll; Inthis;

of the housing sections-whichliorm aportionoi ption. and in the emms njroilow, allf the separator assembly and are supported indee pendently oi the mill assembly as forming a part oi. theseparator housing, al-' though asqa matter of him the intermediate housingqsection II in the example, here shown actually encloses; cn Q per-" tion of the mill-elements. That portion olthe f housingwhich forms a part of the mill assembly.

and is supported directlyairom the foundation The flexible connection betweenthe mill and separator housing here designated as a whole by the reierencecharacter, G, 'is shown more in detailin Figs. a to "I inclusive. 7 This flexible scale; ing member may be conveniently formed-drum a length oi rubber hose olsufliciently large in-- .i so

which material iscarried' upwardly in suspension in anair'streamirom the mill to the 'separator, and through which'material reiectedby the separator gravitates toward the mill, the

housing being divided intermediate its top and bottom into an upper separator housing having an open lower end arid a lower mill housing having an open-upper end, a flxed foundation on which the mill assembly comprising the mill housing is supported, mesns'ior supporting the separator assembly comprising the separator housing in position above the mill assembly, said latter means comprising uprights supported on "the foundation independently or the mill asseml bly and cross-beams carried by. the. uprights, means for suspending the separator housing from the cross-beams, and means ior sealing the conneotion between-the adjacent ends or the mill and separator housings, said sealing means perimitting relative movements oi the housings.

f 2."'A-"grinding and separating unit comprising a-mill includingrotary grinding elements, a l

aratos positioned above and in direct communi- .s eatiodwith'the mill, said separator including a rotary deflecting member, and an upright housing enclosing both the mill and separator, i said housing rorming an enclosure through which material is carried upwardly in suspension in an air streamirom the mill to the separator,

I and through which material rejected by the separator gravitai'es .toward the mill, the housing side diameter, lorexampiesixinches. This hose being divided intermediate'its top and bottom iginto an upper-separator housing having an open *jiower end and a lower mill housing having an open upper end, a motor means for actuating the }millelements, a motor means for actuating the rotary element oi the separator, a flxed roundatjtion on which the mill assembly-comprising the :jjmill housing is mounted, a structure for support- :ing the "separator assemblycomprising-the septhe ring and then additionallysecfled' thereto end portions or the separator-and mill housings.

wardly extending flange oi this, collar by meansof a' clamping ring ll held in placerby a circa-J lar series of spaced apart bolts 59. The lower; flange lloithe member is secured in a similar' manner to themill housingillor a v f portion of the mill assembly adjacent the upper i by apluralitv oi bolts 'll; iThe ring is flattened down ;to a somewhat smaller diameter than the .7 original hose, for example iourinches, thus pro-' viding upperand loweredge portions ti and II 'which are respectively attachedto the adjacent" aratorhousing in position above the mill assembly; said supp rting structure comprising unrights mounted on the toundation independently of the mill assembly and cross-beams carried by .theuprights, means tor suspending the separatorhousing from the cross-beams, the second motor'means also being carried by the supporting structure, and means lorsealing the connection between the adjacent ends or the mill and H 'Qfseparator 'housingmsaid sealing means permit- As shown-in Fig.2,.an annular angle collar 81' is secured to the lower ,outer'end' portion or the separator housing and thenpper flange 5! oi the u flexible sealing member G issecured to the out ting relative movements oi the housings.

h 3, A grinding and separating unit comprising a mill including rotary grinding elements, a sep-' :"arator positioned above and in direct communi- ;cation with the mill, said separator including a T rotary deflecting membe and an upright housoutlet opening or the mill. lt w'ill be apparent that thisflexible will closethe joint between the relatively movable sections of the housing I, whilev at the same time this flexible l 1 member will absorb the greater portion of the vibrations that would otherwise be transmitted tothe upper housin'g 'sectlons and the separating and feeding mechanisms, 7

I claim: l. A grinding and separating unitcomprising a milLa separator positioned above and in direct.

communication with the mill, and 'an-upright ingenclosing both the mill and separator, said housing forming an enclosure through which I material is carried upwardly in suspension in an "air stream from the mill to the separator, ;and through which material rejected by the separator gravitates toward the mill, thelhousing disided-intermediate it's top and bottom intoan upper separator housing having "an open lower end and a lower mill housing having an open upperend, a motor means for actuating the mill elements, a motor means for actuating the rotary element or the separator, a flxed roundation on which the millassembly comprising the mill housing is mounted,a structure for supporting the separator assembly comprising the separator housing in position above the mill assembly, saidpositioned between and attached V tiall'y circular upper opening, the separator assembly comprising a housing having a substantially cylindrical lower portion open at its lower end and having a diameter suflicient to enclose a portion of the mill assembly and register with the upper opening of the mill housing so as to form a continuous enclosure for the mill and separator through which enclosure material flows in both directions between the mill and separator, a fixed foundation on which the mill assembly is supported, means for supporting the separator assembly in position above the mill assembly, said latter means comprising uprights supported on the folmdation independently of the mill assembly and cross-beam carried by the uprights, means for suspending the separator assembly from the cross-beams, and a flexibl sealing ring positioned between and attached adjacent its upper and lower edges respectively to the open end portions housings.

5. In combination, a mill assembly and an apparatus for feeding material at a controlled rate into the mill, the mill assembly comprising a lower housing having an upper opening. a fixed foundation on which the mill assembly is supported, an upper housing having a lower open end portion adapted to register with the upper opening of the lower housing so as to form with the lower housing a continuous conduit through which material in suspension in air flows upwardly from the mill and through which material to be ground passes downwardly to the mill, the feeding apparatus being supported entirely by the upper housing independently of the mill assembly, and means for suspending the upper housing and feeding apparatus comprising uprights supported on the foundation independently of the mill assembly and cross-beams carried by the uprights, means for suspending the upper housing from the cross-beams, and a flexible sealing ring positioned between and attached adjacent its upper and lower edges respectively to the upper and lower housings.

I SAMUEL B. KANOWITZ.

of the mill and separator 

